Albert River Wines: Cellar Door, Lunch and Live Music

Albert River Wines is a cellar door and lunch restaurant at 869 Mundoolun Connection Road, about an hour by car from Brisbane. The winery describes itself as a short drive from Brisbane and the Gold Coast, and it is open every day for tastings, with lunch Wednesday to Sunday.

The cellar door and restaurant, called Auchenflower Restaurant, are in two historic Queensland buildings that were moved onto the property. It suits a long, relaxed lunch or an afternoon wine tasting.

Albert River Wines cellar door hours

The cellar door is open daily. On Monday and Tuesday it opens 10 am to 2:30 pm, and from Wednesday to Sunday it opens 10 am to 4 pm.

From Wednesday to Sunday, the offer is structured wine tastings, antipasto platters, cheese boards and the lunch menu. On Monday and Tuesday you can buy wine by the glass or bottle, have a tasting and order antipasto platters. Tasting prices are not listed online, so ask when you book.

The wines

The cellar door lists sparkling white, sparkling moscato rose and sparkling red, plus semillon sauvignon, chardonnay and viognier whites. Reds are merlot, shiraz and cabernet sauvignon, and there is a dessert port called Red Belly Black Port. A non-alcoholic option, Poinciana Red, is also listed.

Wines are sold by the glass, by the bottle and to take home. Delivery within Australia is $30 per dozen, with a minimum order of one dozen.

Wine Companion records the vineyard as established in 1998, covering 3.6 hectares and producing about 3,000 dozen a year.

Lunch at Auchenflower Restaurant

Lunch runs Wednesday to Sunday from 11:30 am, and last orders are at 2:30 pm. The restaurant serves seasonal dishes with views toward Tamborine Mountain, and the menu is on the winery’s website as a PDF.

The winery treats bookings as enquiries, so a table is only confirmed once the venue replies. Book through the winery’s website or email [email protected]. Special days such as Mother’s Day, Christmas Day and Melbourne Cup have their own arrangements, so contact the venue for those.

Friday dinner dates, weddings and events

The winery lists Friday Dinner Dates and a Christmas Lunch under What’s On, and it also runs farm tours. Ceremony and event spaces, a Bridal Cottage and wedding packages are on the weddings pages, including the expanded Tamborine House.

The historic buildings

Wine Companion says the original owners, David and Janette Bladin, bought two historic Queensland buildings, Tamborine House and Auchenflower House, and relocated them to the property. Tamborine House was expanded for weddings and events after the property changed hands in December 2008.

Planning your visit

• Best day for lunch: Wednesday to Sunday, when Auchenflower Restaurant is serving. On Monday and Tuesday there is no lunch menu, just wine, tastings and antipasto platters until 2:30 pm.
• Best day for atmosphere: Sunday, when live music plays in the gazebo from midday.
• Groups and celebrations: The winery has spaces for celebrations, corporate events and groups, from intimate gatherings to larger occasions. Farm tours are also offered; the winery does not publish times or prices online, so enquire first.
• Weddings: The estate is set up for weddings, with historic ceremony spaces, a Bridal Cottage, wedding planning support and published packages.
• Before you go: Book a table, tell the venue if you want to bring a dog, and check the website for special event days.

Dogs and kids

Dogs are allowed by previous arrangement only, so ask the venue before you bring one. The winery does not publish a children’s policy, so ring first if you are bringing the family.

Getting there

Albert River Wines is at 869 Mundoolun Connection Road, Tamborine. By car it is about 60 minutes from the Brisbane CBD.

Pair it with a trip up the mountain: Mount Tamborine has the gallery walk, waterfalls and lookouts.

Nearby

• Mount Tamborine – things to do on the mountain.
• Witches Falls Winery – another cellar door on Tamborine Mountain.
• Cedar Creek Falls – a walk and swimming spot on the mountain.
• Tamborine Mountain Botanic Gardens – walks and an orchid house.
• Canungra – a village day out and the gateway to Lamington.
• Beenleigh Rum Distillery – a rum distillery tour in nearby Beenleigh.
• More cellar doors: wineries and the Scenic Rim region.

You might also like

• Sirromet Winery (Mount Cotton)
• Mount Alford (Scenic Rim)
• Kooroomba Lavender Farm (Mount Alford)

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